VELERA | PYMNTS Report AUGUST 2025

CU Innovation Readiness: How Fintechs Shift Partnership Strategy

Why fintechs are pivoting toward CUs, platforms and embedded partnerships.

Fintech Partnerships Reshape the Competitive Landscape

Fintechs are increasingly pursuing growth through partners that move quickly and can embed new services at scale. This report shows how partnership strategies are shifting toward credit unions, platforms and marketplaces, and why compliance readiness remains essential.

  • Track where fintech partnerships are growing
  • See why national bank partnerships declined
  • Identify capabilities fintechs bring to CUs

Where Fintechs Place Bets

    19% CU partnership growth

    Fintech partnerships with credit unions rose year over year.

    56% decline with banks

    Partnerships with national banks fell as fintech strategies shifted.

    42% report no barriers

    Many CU-serving fintechs face no major implementation obstacles.